Process for extracting or separating precious values from ores.



J. s. ISLAND. PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING 0R SEPARATING PRECIOUS VALUES FROMORES.

APPLICATION FILED IEB;23, 1910.

965,714. Patented July 2 1910.

nnrrnn snares Parana act.

JAMES S. ISLAND, F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

PROCESS FOR EXTRACTI'NG OR SEPARATING PRECIOUS VALUES FROM ORES. I

Specificatio nof Letters Patent.

Patented July 5226, 191d.

Application filed February 23, 1910. Serial No. 545,526.

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will en able others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful process, or method forextracting or separating the precious values from ores,

by reducing the mineral ores to a soluble state or salts, by subjectingthe ore to a mixture of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.

The ore, if coarse, is crushed by a suitable crusher (not shown) andthen pulverized by a pulverizer. The ore is pulverized to a grade, thatwill pass through a hundred mesh screen, then deposited into a converteror separator, where it is subjected to the sulfuric and hydrochloricacids. furic and hydrochloric acidsare produced by passing a mixture ofchlorin and sulfur dioxid gases, over an area of camphor, then togetherwith the steam, is projected into the converter or separator, therebyproducing sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, which is shown by thefollowing equation:

so, and 261 and 21-I,o=H,so, and 21101 (which is the equivalent ofsulfur dioxid and chlorin and water sulfuric acid and hydrochloricacid). When the sulfuric and hydrochloric acids come in contact with theore in the converter or receptacle, it reduces the ore and the metaltherein, into a soluble salt.

In the drawings accompanying this application, a conventional form ofapparatus is illustrated, in order to carryout the process.

Relative to the drawings, 1 denotes a pulverizer from which-the ore isdelivered into the separator or converter 2, which is of the usualcharacter, and revolves in the usual manner by the sprocket and chain/1and 5.

6 represents a chlorin gas generator, while "'7. denotes afisulfurdioxid gas generator.

Leading from these two generators are pipes or conduits 8 and 9, whichcommunicate with These sul-' through the pipe or conduit 11 into theseparator or converter, where it combines with steam (which 18 conveyedto the converter or separator through the pipe or conduit 12 from thesteam generator 13), there-- by producing hydrochloric and sulfuriacids, which act upon the ore in the sepa- I rator or converter, inorder to reduce or convert the ore and the metal, therein into a solublesalt. The ore is treated by these hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, for aperiod of four or five hours, in which time the metal values containedtherein have been reduced or converted into soluble salts. This solublesalts may be then extracted from the converter or separator by anysuitable means (not shown) and then conveyed to and delivered intoleaching tanks or receptacles 14. \Vhen the soluble salts has beendeposited in the tanks, the metal values may be readily separated fromthe refuse. chlorin and sulfur dioxid gases are united in the coupler10, they are passed over an area of campho which produced the sulfurylchlorid. B fore the sulfuryl chlorid combined with steam, is introducedor projected into the converter, the ore therein may be first heated fora period of time, suitable to the operators of this process.

The invention, having been set forth, what is claimed, as new anduseful, is

1. A process for separating the metal values from ores, by reducing orconverting the metal values into soluble salts, by sub-,

When the verting the metal values into soluble salts,

by subjecting the ores to sulfuryl chlorid, combined with steam, whichproduces sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.

3. A process for separating metal values from ores, which consists infirst pulverizing the ores, and then reducing or converting the metalvaluesinto soluble salts, by subjecting the ores to a treatment ofsulfuryl chlorid and steam. for a period of four hours.

a. A' process for separating metal values from ores, which consists infirst heating the ores fora period of time, and then subi'ecb ing theores to sulfuric and hydroch oric acids thereb reducin or convertin theIn tesl'inmn whereof I have si nvr l luv 7 v D h I 71 metal into solublesalts, then separatingthe name to this spocificatinn' in (he presence 01metal values from the refuse, said sulfuric CW0 subscribing Witnesses.

and. hydrochloric acids being' produced by JAMES S. ISLAND. passing amixture of chioriu and sulfur Utnesses:

dioxid uses over an area of cum 1 0! and DEAN SWIFT 7 7 3 ROBERT A.Boswum.

then combining the mixture wil h steam.

